Alexis thieault



Patented March 8, 1864.

fA. THIRAULT.

' Distil'ling Rock Oil:

N. PUERS. HMO-Ummm'. Walkin U C.

Unirse @raras Farnrvr @irren i ALEXIS THIBAULT', on New YORK, N. Y.

EMPROVENIENT EN DISTILFLHNG ROCK=O|L.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. Lg? dated March H, 1864.

Figure l represents a longitudinal vertical section of my invention, taken in the plane indicated by the line 00 x, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the saine, the plane of section being indicated by the line y y, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two igures.

The object of this invention is to combine, by cohobation and rectification, the explosive portions contained in rock-oil with the heavy oils, and to produce a safe, cheap, and good burning-huid.

The invention consists, first, in subjecting crude petroleum or rock-oil to repeated evaporations by condensing the vaporous products in one and returning the condensed liquid to the still through another pipe in such a manner that the density of the product of evaporation gradually increases until the same attains the required density to render it iit for a safe. and non-explosive burning-,fluid It consists, second, in the arrangement of two pipes, one being provided with or passing through a condensing medium, and extending d from the top, and the other from the bottom,

of the still, in combination with a funnel-shaped uid from the'iirst pipe and transmits it to the second in such a manner that the vapors of small specific gravity rising iirst from the material in the still pass through the first or condensing pipe, and thence, in the liquid state, through the conductor and through the second pipe back to the bottom of the still, where they are mixed with the less volatile parts of the material, and that this operation can be continued until the liquid emanating from the first pipe has assumed the desired density.

The invention consists, third, in the arrangement o,f a rectifier inthe interior of the still, in combination with a pipe leading from said rectifier to the funnel-shaped conductor in such a manner that the liquid emanating from the rst or condensing pipe, on having reached the desired density, can be conducted in the rectitier, and the distillation iinished at one operation.

To enable those skilled in -the art to mak and use'my invention, I will proceed to de scribe its construction and operation with ref- Y erence to the drawings.

A represents the still, which is made of sheet metal or of cast-iron, and which is placed on a furnace, B, built up of brick or other suitable material, and .provided with a tire-door, C, and with a suitable grate, for the l` purpose of building and maintaining a re to heat the still.

D is a pipe, which extends from the upper y part of the still to a funnel-shaped conductor,

E, and this pipe is either made so long that the vapors in passing through it are condensed by the action of the air, or it may be arranged under a condenser, D', through which a conl tinuous spray of cold water is thrown on said pipe, or it may pass through a vessel containing cold water or some other condensing medium. rihe vapors, after having been condensed in the pipe D, are discharged into the funnelshaped conductor E, which 'connects either with the pipe F or with the pipe G.

The pipe F leads back to the still and nearly pipes D F these oils, after having been condensed in the pipe D, are returned to the still and mixed again with the liquidcontained in the same, and this operation is continued until the liquid emanating from the pipe D shows the 4desired density, rendering the same it and safe for illuminating purposes. If this point has been reached, the pipe F is unscrewed from the conductor E and replaced bythe pipe G. This pipe extends from the conductor through the still into the rectifier H, which consists of a cylindrical vessel sit.- uated in the interior of the still and in its lower part, where the same is brought to a high temperature by the action ofthe iire heating the still. In this rectifier the liquid introduced into it by the pipe G undergoes the final distillation, and the vapors formed in the rectifier pass off through the pipe I, and after they have been condensed the rectified liquid is collected in a suitable barrel or other vessel.

By the action of my apparatus the light oils contained in petroleum are mixed with the heavy oils in a permanent manner, and a burning-fluid is produced which is perfectly safe and non-explosive.

The manner in which the light and heavy oils are united by my apparatus so as to constitute an oil ofthe desired density for burning will be understood from the following explanation: In the ordinary distillation of petroleum the rst product of distillation up to a certain density constitutes the light oils. The balance up to another density forms good burning-oil, and the remainder, which is distilled as long as possible, forms the heavy oils.

rlhe quantity of good burning-oil obtained by one distillation is not more than from forty to fifty per cent. The remainder, being not fit for burning, is sometimes mixed until it has the required density, and in this state it constitutes a dangerous and explosive fluid. Sometimes the mixture of light and heavy oils is subjected to a redistillation, and thereby an intimate combination of the light and heavy oils is effected, rendering the same fit for burning. This fact is Well known to dstillers of petroleum, and the redistillation of the light and heavy oils would bein common use but vfor the Want of a proper apparatus to carry Having thus fully described my invention,x.

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. subjecting petroleum or rock-oil to repeated evaporations by condensing the vaporous products in one and returning the condensed liquid to the still through another pipe, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The arrangement of the condensing-pipe D, funnel-shaped conductor E, and returnpipe F, in combination with the still A, constructing and operating substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The arrangement of the rectifier H in the interior of the still A, in combination with the condensingpipe D, funnel-shaped conductor E, return-pipe G, and condensing-pipe I, all constructed and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein specied.

ALEXIS THIBAULT.

NVitnesses:

Jarras LAIRD, R. GAWLEY. 

